Sam Brasch

Climate / Environment Reporter

Sam Brasch covers climate and the environment for CPR News. Sam came to CPR in 2015 as the recipient of the organization’s first news fellowship.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy, Colorado College.

Professional background:
Sam came to Colorado Public Radio in 2015 as the recipient of the organization’s first news fellowship. The year-long position allowed him to hone his journalistic skills working alongside CPR reporters, producers and editors.

Following his fellowship, Sam was awarded an 11-Hour Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship from the University of California Berkeley where we worked with mentors like Michael Pollan to produce a radio documentary on kosher slaughter practices.

Sam rejoined Colorado Public Radio in 2016 as a contract reporter where he filled in for newscasts, reported on the state legislature and supported long-term feature stories and interviews for “Colorado Matters.”

Before his career in broadcast journalism, Sam worked for Modern Farmer Magazine where he wrote articles on goat towers and lambie jammies, and promoted the magazine's work on social media.

Colorado Special Session Ends After Republicans Rebuff Tax Fix

The rancor wasn’t a surprise after Republicans protested to the governor calling the session in the first place.

By Sam Brasch

Lawmakers Are Back To Fix A Pot Tax Error. Here’s A Quick Special Session Guide

How many Colorado lawmakers does it take to fix a bill-drafting error? All 100 of them.

By Sam Brasch

Colorado Lawmakers Consider Solutions To Overcrowded County Jails

Republican Sen. Don Coram and Democratic Rep. Adrienne Benavidez join Colorado Matters to discuss what state lawmakers are trying to do to address the problem.

By Sam Brasch

Pueblo’s Overcrowded Jail Is The Worst Of A Statewide Problem

There are plenty of reasons why Pueblo’s jail is so overcrowded. Solutions are harder to come by.

By Sam Brasch

Environment

African Wildlife Protectors Get A Hand In Detective Training In Commerce City

Saving African wild cats, elephants and other species from extinction takes serious police work. That’s where the National Wildlife Property Repository comes in.

By Sam Brasch

Climate Change

Amid Western Heatwaves and Wildfires, Colorado Stayed Chill In August

August was cooler than usual in Colorado. And no, that doesn’t break with climate change.

By Sam Brasch

Denver Public Schools Students Now Get A Full Lunch, Including When They Can’t Afford It

Denver Public Schools students who struggled to pay on their meal account used to get a barebones “alternative” lunch.” Critics say that policy left those kids hungry and embarrassed.

By Sam Brasch

How Will National Monuments Change Under Trump? It’s A Secret — But Here’s What We Do Know

In April, President Trump ordered a review of 27 national monuments around the country. The interior secretary made his recommendations last week.

By Sam Brasch

When Life Gives You Hot Springs, Use Them To Grow Tomatoes — In Winter

Pagosa Springs goes in for geothermal greenhouses.

By Sam Brasch

What Does Music Say About The Future Of White Nationalism?

A University of Colorado professor says the recent rally in Charlottesville reflected a bigger trend: White nationalists may have given up on being respectable.

By Sam Brasch